PHASE-SPACE DYNAMICS OF BOSE CONDENSATES - INTERFERENCE VERSUS INTERACTION

We study theoretically the macroscopic interference of two independent Bose condensates released from a double potential trap. The observati on of fringes could serve as a test for the paradigm of broken gauge s ymmetry. By numerical solution of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation i n three dimensions, the consecutive stages of expansion, overlap, and interference an investigated in order to facilitate the design of futu re experiments. The phase-space dynamics of the condensates is analyze d by means of the Wigner function. It turns out that the distance of i nterference fringes grows linearly in time with a velocity inversely p roportional to the initial distance of the two condensates. The collis ional reduction of the fringe visibility is estimated.